Just a couple of vacant locations around Austin that have some nice potential:
1) The Organic Market next to the Windsor. Very excited about this location. It's part of a new condo so could house a very nice restaurant or another upscale grocer. (It's already set up to sell food, etc.) A bit cozy in terms of size. My choice would be a nice, new restaurant there. I would imagine the rent is pretty high though given it's a new construction. But, it's also on a side street. Hmmm, maybe we'll be looking at another fantastic food place like La Boulangerie, which also managed to afford a side street near Austin. And has found a huge following.
2) The former Marianella's Mexican spot. Right next to the McDonald's this location I see for another fast food chain. Chipotle is already coming next to Martha's, so while that would have been a no-brainer for them, that chain is out. (The location they chose is obviously better for them. Much better visibility in that highly-trafficked corner, right there visible even by Restaurant Row-goers.) What other fast food chains could come into that spot?
1) The Organic Market next to the Windsor. Very excited about this location. It's part of a new condo so could house a very nice restaurant or another upscale grocer. (It's already set up to sell food, etc.) A bit cozy in terms of size. My choice would be a nice, new restaurant there. I would imagine the rent is pretty high though given it's a new construction. But, it's also on a side street. Hmmm, maybe we'll be looking at another fantastic food place like La Boulangerie, which also managed to afford a side street near Austin. And has found a huge following.
2) The former Marianella's Mexican spot. Right next to the McDonald's this location I see for another fast food chain. Chipotle is already coming next to Martha's, so while that would have been a no-brainer for them, that chain is out. (The location they chose is obviously better for them. Much better visibility in that highly-trafficked corner, right there visible even by Restaurant Row-goers.) What other fast food chains could come into that spot?
I vote for an independent coffee shop with wi-fi in the old organic space! Desperately needed in Fo Hi.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to these vacant spaces, but why hasn't an upscale boutique gym moved into the Annie Sez space? It's been vacant for 3+ years!
ReplyDeleteUm.... why hasn't NASA opened a Forest Hills Mission Control there? That's kind of a random suggestion.
DeletePerhaps because the last two personal training gyms failed nearby?
DeleteWould love to see an Equinox or high end gym in Forest Hills. The gyms we have here are much worse in caliber.
ReplyDeleteManhattan has all the frills. Forest Hills is a second class citizen.
oh good more fast food!
ReplyDeleteIs CHIPOTLE a definite on Austin Street?
ReplyDeleteYep
DeleteCan we all face a simple trut - Forest Hills will not support an Organic Store, it will not support any high end boutique store and most certainly will not support an equinox gym. It will support hot dog trucks, waffle carts, yogo trucks etc. $1.00 pizza will come soon, a cvs (yeah another cheap place selling the same crap). A lot of people on this blog talk big and then complain about price. I would love to see high end gyms, a sea food restaurant and a Real "PRIME" steak house. But that is not going to happen. We r going to get more canal street places because that is what the people will pay for.
ReplyDeleteI would "face your simple truth" if it was indeed true. Your simplistic, back and white take on things just doesn't hold up: La Boulangerie, Bareburger, Agora Taverna, Danny Brown (the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Queens), are all evidence that you don't know what you're talking about. How do these places exist if your version of Forest Hills was indeed a fact?
DeleteAnd there are others already open or in the planning stages.
Sounds like you're just one of those who likes to look at the world half-empty?
Great point...And a Mexican "truck" on the corner of Continental & Austin for those 3am drunks (or for 7am breakfast)
ReplyDeleteI saw a whole line of people at the Mexican taco truck the other afternoon. Seems people are really enjoying it. If it's anything like the ones they have in Manhattan, I can see why. Those things are awesome.
Deletefood trucks are not upscale and they cater to people who want inexpensive food which is why they park outside the subway not by haute cuisine places such as your michelin-rated DB.
ReplyDeleteWhile i agree they aren't "upscale", they are trendy and producing some interesting food. I think as a whole, NY is behind in food truck cuisine. The Waffle truck is definitely a move in the right direction. I also wouldnt classify this as inexpensive - yes less eexpensive than a restaurant, but the food trucks (such as the waffle one) is not about cheap eats under 5 bucks - its more about innovative dishes to go that usually hover over 10 dollars. There are lobster trucks in manhattan by my office where the rolls go for over 20 dollars. They certainly have a "high end" clientele. I think some good, innovative food trucks can be great for the neighborhood and keep us on the map with places like park slope, astoria etc
DeleteSpeaking of lobster trucks, it would be fantastic to see a Luke's Lobster open up where Marianella's was! Not cheap, but certainly delicious! I would also second the vote on an independant coffee shop in any of the empty spaces. I'm so tired of Starbuck's and D&D.
DeleteI know it's not Austin St or Metropolitan, but we have an empty store on 69th Ave between Harrow and Groton. We need a green grocer/deli, with some organic choices. Come join our thriving row of businesses and contribute something important to our neighborhood!
ReplyDelete